‘Respect sanctity of life,’ city appeals as newborn discovered lifeless in garbage area
City social workers appealed to mothers and parents to take heart and not to resort to inhumane ways to get rid of their unwanted children.
The plea came after an abandoned fetus was discovered in a garbage disposal area at Upper Rock Quarry barangay here on June 25, 2025.
Social worker Joy Hilario in a report to City Social Welfare Officer Liza Bulayungan said she received a distress call from the barangay council about the fetus described to be already fully developed placed inside a rice sack.
Garbage collectors of the City General Services Office while on duty at 7 a.m. found the sack wet and with fresh blood dripping from it prompting them to investigate the content leading to the discovery which they promptly reported to the barangay.
“The incident was immediately coordinated with the Baguio City Police Office-Station 5 and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office – Operations Division which immediately proceeded to the area and as per validation, (there was) a full-term newborn infant with an intact umbilical cord, weighing approximately between 2.5 and 2.9 kilograms, with obvious signs of death due to blood pooling and skin discoloration,” Hilario said.
The case has been referred to the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team for an extensive post-mortem investigation.This is the fourth incident of an abandoned fetus in the city this year.
Bulayungan and Hilario bemoaned the incidents saying mothers no matter what the circumstances of their pregnancies should not resort to such acts that show no regard to the sanctity of life.
“We lament the sad fate of this unborn child and the others before. No child deserves this cruel and inhumane ending. We appeal to mothers and parents facing pregnancy dilemmas: It does not have to be this way — callously ending the life you created and just dumping their remains anywhere. Please take heart. Life is precious, children are always a blessing,” they said.
OCSWDO and other government and private institutions offer programs and assistance for pregnant women in distress.
OCSWDO may be reached at 0744446467; 0744226056; and 09672084777. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
